A voice boomed from the crowd.

All eyes were on Gavin.

After all, Gavin had been holding the baby, occupying the seat of honor all day.

Gavin expressed hesitation with a smile.

“Um… Tanya. Maybe Mr. Hunter should have the honors since…”

I stared at the celebration cake, a flicker of hope rising within me.

It was Sarah’s sip-and-see.

If Tanya were to assign me to cut the cake, I could let everything else slide.

“No,” Tanya answered right away.

She thrust the knife, adorned with a pink ribbon, into Gavin’s hand.

“Callum works for me. I doubt he can handle the job well. Not to mention, it’s not his place.

“You’re my good friend and Sarah’s godfather, Gavin. The first slice is meant to bless her future with success. It would mean more if you did it.”

After a pause, she added. “Don’t worry. Callum isn’t the type to be petty over something so trivial. He won’t mind.”

“Alright then.”

Gavin gripped the handle with a wide grin while Tanya took her place by his side, cradling Sarah.

They were only inches apart. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect couple.

Meanwhile, I stood in the shadowed corner, a clown hidden from view.

My mind flew back to that winter three years ago.

At the time, the Coxes fell into financial ruin. Tanya’s father ran away with the money, and her mother lay dying. Tanya, born of her father’s side piece, was left to shoulder the mounting debt.

It was bad enough that Tanya had a rough childhood, but she had to face the ruin of her family’s legacy as an adult.

When creditors adopted forceful means to collect, Tanya curled into a corner and called me, crying.

“I don’t have a home anymore, Callum. I’ve lost everything…”

Back then, I was the only heir to the city’s prestigious Hunter family.

My parents, Darren and Beth Hunter, never approved of Tanya when we started dating. When the Coxes fell from grace, they were against me being involved with a debt-ridden, unwanted daughter.

To break us up, they cut me off financially.

I had to sell all my fancy sports cars and watches to fund her mother’s surgery.

Even the locket I had worn since I was little had to be pawned.

Darren smashed his cup near my feet and put his finger up my nose.

“Callum, are you throwing away your legacy for that girl? You are no longer my son the moment you walk out that door!”

Crying her eyes out, Mom clutched my hand as if her life depended on it.

“That’s a never-ending, soul-crushing pit you will never fill, Callum. We don’t want you to suffer. That’s not a life for you!”

Sinking to my knees, I hung my head low and pleaded for their understanding.

I said, “Mom, Dad, I am all she has left. She’ll be ruined if I turn my back now.

“We all have our dark days. Tanya didn’t choose to be born into that family. I trust that she is destined for greatness.”

I was terrified that Tanya, left alone, would be broken by the debt collectors.

With my support, Tanya’s mother improved in health.

However, the money was quickly running out.

To get Tanya’s business off the ground and give her a fighting chance, I braved the snow, delivering orders and handing out flyers.

I took on the hardest, most thankless jobs, all for a paycheck.

It was a very brutal winter.

I would come home after a long day, my hands raw, swollen, and infected with frostbite.

It happened to be my birthday.

However, there was no money for a cake, and my hands hurt badly.

Tanya looked at my mangled hands. With tears in her eyes, she made me a peanut butter sandwich.

She handed me the sandwich while sobbing.

“I’m sorry, Callum.

“Just give me more time. One day, I will get you the biggest and baddest cake ever.

“I’m going to make sure you stand at the very top. We’ll shut them all up.

“Just wait for me, okay? Please…”

Her tears burned into my very soul.

True to her word, Tanya bought the biggest cake and reached new heights of success.

I, however, was no longer the man who shared the spotlight with her.

“Bravo!”

The cheering crowd snapped me back to reality.

Gavin took the first slice and offered it, not for the child to smash, but to Tanya’s lips.

“Tanya, you’ve been through so much. This is for you.”

With flushed cheeks, Tanya took a bite in front of everyone.

“Thank you, Gavin.”

“Mr. Nolan and Ms. Cox make a lovely couple. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were together.”

The crowd showered them with congratulations.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Way back then, Tanya, an overlooked child, would watch Gavin in the shadows whenever he visited the Coxes.

He was the perfect golden boy—untouchable, unattainable.

Since the fall of the Coxes, Gavin didn’t so much as send a text during his time away.

I was there for Tanya every step of the way. Yet, with newfound confidence and success, she only had eyes for Gavin.

What did that leave me with? What was I doing there, watching them play house?

The door to the venue opened.

A hotel manager entered the room, handling a plush velvet box with utmost care.

“Sorry to bother you, Ms. Cox.

“This was delivered to the front desk. It is a gift for the young lady’s sip-and-see.”

Wiping the buttercream off Gavin’s fingers, Tanya looked up nonchalantly.

“Who is the gift from?”

“The person didn’t leave a name. Only that it’s from a senior family member.” The manager handed the box over with respect.

Tanya took the box in confusion and removed the lid.

A brilliant shimmer blinded the crowd.

A golden locket lay quietly in the box.

The locket captured the intricate design of an angel.

The jewelry piece was adorned with rubies, sparkling under the light. The value was unmistakable.

Gasps filled the room.

“My goodness, look at the craftsmanship. We’re talking about a world-class artisan’s work. It must cost a fortune.”

Tanya was taken aback.

Despite her recent wealth, Tanya hadn’t seen anything of such significance and price tag.

She turned to Gavin and asked blankly, “Is this from you, Gavin?”

Caught off guard, Gavin took a moment to pull himself together.

Still, that didn’t stop Tanya from filling in the blanks. Emotions overwhelmed her.

“You sent the gift anonymously, so I wouldn’t feel bad, right?

“For something so precious, you are too kind, Gavin. You’re more of a father to Sarah than anyone is.”

The crowd stirred with cheers.

“Mr. Nolan sure is generous. Ms. Cox, he deserves a special mention for the thoughtful gift.”

Despite feeling uneasy, Gavin cleared his throat amid the envious looks.

He wrapped his arm around Tanya’s waist and smiled tenderly.

“Nothing is too much for you and the little one.”

There wasn’t a word of denial.

Tanya was nearly moved to tears.

Standing outside the crowd, I stared long and hard at the locket.

The locket was my mother’s handiwork.

When I was born, Beth poured her heart and soul into her sketches for months and used the finest gold from the family’s vault to create the same locket.

However, I pawned it away to scrape money together for Tanya’s mother’s surgery.

The locket was gone for good.

I transferred the money straight to Tanya, sending her to foot her mother’s hospital bill.

Meanwhile, I was back in the streets, fulfilling delivery orders and passing out flyers.

One afternoon, I huddled on the curb, eating stale bread, when a Rolls-Royce pulled up right in front of me.

The car window rolled down, and tears streamed down Beth’s cheeks as she took notice of my sore hands.

Come home with me, Callum. Please.

“Are you going to ruin yourself for that girl? Is it worth throwing your life away?”

Hiding my hands behind my back, I said to Beth with a smile, “I’m not throwing my life away, Mom. I’m building something with my hands. Tanya is very talented. All she needs is a chance.”

Burning with rage, Darren jumped out of the car and slapped me in the face.

“You’re a lost cause. Why are you destroying yourself over a woman? I didn’t raise a son with no spine.”

My ears rang from the blow.

Caught in the moment, Darren pulled Beth back into the car.

Since then, I had never seen them in my life again.

I thought they had disowned me for good.

However, the locket today was clearly from Beth.

It was the same woman who begged and pleaded for my return home despite her broken heart.

She was reaching out to me, even when I hurt her. Even now, my child and I remained in her thoughts.

Only my mother would be there to pick up the pieces, time and again.

Yet now, Tanya mistook Beth’s sacrificial love for her lover boy’s romance.

It was the most absurd thing ever.

What on earth had I been holding onto these past three years?

“Don’t just stand there, Callum,” Tayna snapped with furrowed brows.

“Gavin just presented Sarah with an expensive gift. You’re the VP. Get the hint and toast him.”

She sounded bossy and entitled.

Her tone was no different from when she bossed me around in the office.

Gavin, glass in hand, smiled pretentiously.

“Don’t be a stranger, Callum. We’re all family here.”

Yeah, right.

Drawing a deep breath, I strode toward Tanya.

“Save me that look. Are we having a funeral here? Give that speech and stop making me look bad in front of the guests.”

As the scowl on Tanya’s face deepened, I rubbed the plain band on my ring finger.

We bought the ring from the flea market on the day we got our marriage license.

The band was nothing more than a few bucks.

The ring had stayed on my finger for the last three years.

I had never taken it off, not while washing cars, hauling freight, or cooking in grease.

The band was battered and tarnished, a reflection of our pathetic marriage.

The matching ring on her finger was missing.

I broke out laughing.

Pinching the ring, I gave it a violent tug.

Tanya was taken aback.

“What are you doing?”

The ring, worn for years, was stuck on my calloused finger, scraping my raw skin.

Not stopping for a breather, I yanked the ring out.

“Clang!”

I tossed the band aside.

The ring, a witness to my quiet nights of waiting, fell into the champagne tower.

Droplets of the alcohol splashed across Gavin’s expensive suit.

Silence filled the air.

The smile on Gavin’s face froze.

Tanya jolted to her feet and looked at me in disbelief.

“What on earth are you doing, Callum? Have you lost your mind?”

After a deep breath, I could feel the heavy weight on my chest lifted.

Meeting her frantic gaze, I responded calmly, “You’re right, Ms. Cox. I won’t mind at all.

“I want out of this marriage.”